Daily Prayers Wednesday, 6 July 2022
Good morning, Cornerstone friends.
This is a beautiful summer day that we have been given.
Let us spend a while being thankful and thinking how we will use this beautiful day.
O give thanks to the Lord and call upon his name;
make known his deeds among the peoples.
Sing to him, sing praises
and tell of all his marvellous works.
Rejoice in the praise of his holy name
let the hearts of them rejoice who seek the Lord.
Seek the Lord and his strength;
seek his face continually.
Remember the marvels he has done,
his wonders and the judgements of his mouth.
O seed of Abraham his servant,
O children of Jacob his chosen.
He is the Lord our God;
his judgements are in all the earth.
Psalm 105: 1–7
God of our earthly pilgrimage, feed your Easter people with the bread of heaven, that we may hunger and thirst for righteousness until we reach the promised land; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen
Common Worship
These twelve, Jesus sent out with the following instructions: […] ‘As you go, proclaim the good news, “The kingdom of heaven has come near.” Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. You received without payment; give without payment.
Take no gold, or silver, or copper in your belts, no bag for your journey, or two tunics, or sandals, or staff, for labourers deserve their food. Whatever town or village you enter, find out who in it is worthy, and stay there until you leave. As you enter the house, greet it. If the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; but if it is not worthy let your peace return to you. If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet as you leave that house or town. Truly I tell you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgement for that town.’
Matthew 10: 5a & 7–15
We can certainly give thanks and sing God’s praise on this glorious morning.
Compared with most of the world we have much to be thankful about.
The gospel story is also about the disciples telling of all his marvellous works
with similar instructions to the reading last Sunday when 72 messengers were sent.
Our calling surely is to tell people the same message in Central Milton Keynes and Campbell Park.
Let us pray for the church, Christ the Cornerstone has a particular mission,
but it is not unlike many churches in our country.
We have an ageing congregation and those still in work or raising families
have less opportunity for voluntary activity than a generation ago.
Our operations for every day in the week and the organisation of worship on Sundays
need more volunteers for every activity.
I was in church to meet someone at 9:00 am last Friday morning,
which seemed to me to be ‘first thing’.
Simon Lowson and Marianne Cockburn were clearing up
after a breakfast meeting which was finishing.
They had been in church since before 6:00 am
to provide a service for the group who had hired our building.
Give thanks for our dedicated staff going the extra mile and then some!
Please consider if you could help.
It is not difficult to sit at the Reception desk and welcome visitors
or to be a steward or to read a lesson in worship.
Training is available for all the voluntary tasks that need doing
and you start by being alongside experienced people until you are confident.
It can be both satisfying and enjoyable, and not so difficult or tiring as you may think.
The up and coming generation can also help and will be supported.
Almighty God, you have sent the Spirit of your Son into our hearts
whereby we can call you Father;
give us grace to dedicate our freedom to your service
that we and all creation may be brought to the glorious liberty of the children of God,
through Christ our Lord.
Amen
Collect for3rd Sunday after Trinity, Common Worship
At this time of year it would be good to think about schools and colleges
finishing another academic year in difficult circumstances
and to pray for young people as they enter into their adult lives.
Some students will be enjoying success in examinations and feeling great about their future.
Others will be disappointed.
Milton Keynes Christian Foundation, based in Wolverton, offers help to students
who are not doing well at school to help them re-take exams
to pass their end of school requirements and be ready for the world of work or college.
Many of these young people have problems from their social background,
mental health difficulties and quite a few have suffered or are suffering abuse.
Give thanks for the staff at Milton Keynes Christian Foundation who go the extra mile
to stop young people from feeling they are ‘on the scrap heap’ before they even start.
Grant, O Lord, to all students to love that which is worth loving,
to know that which is worth knowing, to praise those things which please you most,
to esteem that which is most precious to you and to dislike whatever is evil in your eyes.
Grant that with true judgement they may distinguish things that differ
and above all, may they search out and do what is well pleasing in your sight.
Amen
Thomas á Kempis (1380–14719) amended
Lord of all life, we pray that as each generation discovers your world in their own way,
they may catch a glimpse of your glory and use their energies creatively in your service and for the benefit of others.
Amen
Revd Marcus Braybrooke,(2003)
May our hearts rejoice as we seek the Lord today
and may it show his greatness to all whom we will encounter.
Don Head
